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arXiv · cond-mat/0202443

Entropic torque

R. Roth·R. van Roij·D. Andrienko·K. R. Mecke·S. Dietrich
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Abstract

Quantitative predictions are presented of a depletion-induced torque and force acting on a single colloidal hard rod immersed in a solvent of hard spheres close to a planar hard wall. This torque and force, which are entirely of entropic origin, may play an important role for the key-lock principle, where a biological macromolecule (the key) is only functional in a particular orientation with respect to a cavity (the lock).

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R. Roth, R. van Roij, D. Andrienko, K. R. Mecke, S. Dietrich. 2002-02-25. Entropic torque. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevlett.89.088301

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